What is Social Security's Compassionate Allowance List?
Empowering Families and Professionals in Disability Planning Through Expedited Benefits for Severe Conditions
This week’s article is much shorter than I normally write, and will not be behind a paywall. I’ve been getting an unusual amount of traction on a video I did explaining Social Security’s Compassionate Allowance List, so wanted to share the information here as well. I’m guessing some of you may not know this list exists. In my opinion, everyone working with families with Special Needs should have it bookmarked.
The Compassionate Allowance program is a part of the Social Security Administration's efforts to quickly identify and expedite the processing of disability claims for individuals with specific severe conditions. This program is particularly relevant for professionals who want to help those with disabilities plan and access benefits. The goal is to help individuals with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions faster.
Using the Compassionate Allowance List, Social Security employees can identify which diseases and medical conditions have already been deemed to meet Social Security's stringent standards for disability benefits. It focuses on specific conditions like certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and rare disorders affecting children. It's designed to alleviate the waiting time for individuals grappling with the most severe disabilities, which can sometimes take 6 - 9 months, or longer.
No, it’s not going to help those with Autism or physical disabilities like blindness or a missing limb. However, it could be life-changing for those with rare genetic diseases, various types of cancers, or uncommon Syndromes (i.e. Richter or Stiff Person).
This list isn’t set in stone. If you have a condition you don’t see listed, and you think it would meet the criteria, you can ask Social Security to consider it. Here’s the link to submit a condition’s name for consideration.